BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Öhlins TTX22 Shock
The world of high-end shocks is one filled with lots of dials and adjustments, but that can also make it a bit tricky to arrive at your ideal settings. The Öhlins TTX22, however, has proven to offer the reliable, high-end performance you’d expect of a top-tier product, but is also very simple and easy to get running really well. Check out our full review for the whole story.
Vero Sandler on REAL MTB, Digging, Dance Moves, & Getting Slidey (Ep.65)
Vero Sandler just competed in the first ever REAL MTB event, so we caught up with this Kiwi with the French name (Veronique) who lives in Wales to talk about the experience and get her thoughts on being the first (and only) female in the comp; the importance of checking your junk (???); the art of “getting slidey”; her current big idea; and more.
Jean-Luc Diard on the Deckers X Lab Design Philosophy & Products (Ep.85)
We’re talking again with one of the most influential product designers in the outdoor industry, Jean-Luc Diard, about the design philosophy of Deckers X Lab, a number of the models in the Deckers Lab lineup, and why they are trying to rethink everything from the standard flip flop to the casual sneaker to the suspension systems of high-end, performance shoes.
Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design
We talk to ski designers from Blizzard, Folsom, Rossignol, Dynastar, & Wagner Skis about their respective design philosophies; current trends in ski design; whether skis are being dumbed down today; whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; current consumer interests; and more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130
Dylan Wood spent some time in the revised version of Atomic’s lightweight alpine boot, and here he shares his initial thoughts on its overall performance and how it differs from the previous version.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude
The Altitude has been in the Rocky Mountain lineup for more than a decade now, but what, exactly, the Altitude is has changed a lot over the years, and the bike got a dramatic overhaul for 2021. We’ve been riding the latest iteration, and have found it to be surprisingly versatile for a 160 / 170 mm travel Enduro bike.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (April 2021) (Ep.167)
Cody and Jonathan discuss some recent criticism of REI; spraying vs. not spraying the locations of your outdoor adventures; Mt. Bohemia’s plan to incentivize vaccinations; gear libraries & outdoor accessibility; sex and ski touring; & more.
TRP TR12 Drivetrain
TRP’s TR12 drivetrain is marketed as a high-end option at a high-end price, but can it compete with the likes of Shimano XTR and SRAM X01? Check out our full review to find out.
Deep Dive: Folsom Rapture
We compare the Rapture to the Volkl Shiro, DPS Alchemist Lotus 124, 4FRNT Renegade, Kye Shapes Numinous, Praxis Protest, Moment Chipotle Banana, DPS Foundation Koala 119, Volkl Revolt 121, Faction La Machine, Blizzard Spur, Blizzard Rustler 11, & Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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Ski Touring Gear & Listener Questions (Ep.146)
Which tech bindings feel the most like alpine bindings? What “very light” skis offer the best suspension and damping? In this episode, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about a bunch of ski touring gear they’ve been reviewing and answer a number of your touring-related questions.
Win a Sleep System from HEST
This week the winner will get HEST’s high-end, memory-foam mobile sleep system!
Flash Review: 21/22 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition
Elan is once again offering a special “Black Edition” of their Ripstick 106 for 21/22 — check out our initial thoughts on how it compares to the standard version.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2021-2022 Folsom Rapture
“One of the most versatile powder skis I have ever used” — that’s what reviewer and heli-ski guide Paul Forward said about the Folsom Rapture. Check out his full review & Deep Dive comparisons for more on how the ski has performed during a full season of heli skiing and during days at the resort.
Mojo Suspension & Geometron Bikes founder, Chris Porter (Ep.64)
Chris Porter has long been known as one of the earliest and most vocal proponents of the longer/lower/slacker trends in mountain bike geometry, and his Geometron bikes have pushed the envelope further than just about anything else out there. Chris has opinions on a whole lot more than just bike geometry, though, and in our recent conversation we got his takes on wheel sizes, eBikes, suspension tuning, Vladimir Putin(?), and a whole lot more.
Giro Source MIPS & Giro Manifest Spherical
It’s not hard to spend several hundred dollars on a mountain bike helmet, but should you? And what do you give up, in opting for a less-expensive option? We’ve been doing some head-to-head testing of Giro’s moderately-priced Source and high-end Manifest Spherical helmets to find out, and you can now read our full review to see how they compare.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
2022-2023 Majesty Vadera Carbon
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Majesty Vadera Carbon.
2022-2023 Stereo Piste V3
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the Stereo Piste V3.
Dynafit Alpine
The Dynafit Alpine is designed to be a do-everything shoe that fits well, provides enough cushioning for long days out on the trails, and holds up regardless of where you take it. After testing, this statement checks out, and then some. The Dynafit Alpine is not only a great mountain running shoe, but one of the best all-around trail running models we’ve tested this year.
Stuff We Like: May 2022
In the May edition of our “Stuff We Like” series, we’ve got some puffy layers ideal for camping, bike accessories, casual apparel, and more. Check it out to see the latest gear our reviewers have been digging.
2022-2023 Wagner Summit 109
The Summit 109 is the newest addition to Wagner’s “Factory Series” of skis, and it’s a very well-rounded all-mountain ski that two of our reviewers — with quite different skiing styles — both really enjoyed. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons for more.
Deep Dive: Wagner Summit 109
We compare the Summit 109 to the Wagner Summit 106, Wagner Summit 107, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Line Blade Optic 104, Nordica Enforcer 110, J Skis Hotshot, RMU YLE 110, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Head Kore 111, Atomic Bent 110, Moment Commander 108, Salomon QST Blank, 4FRNT Hoji, Icelantic Nomad 105, Volkl Katana 108, Blizzard Cochise 106, Sego Comp 110, Dynastar M-Free 108, Black Crows Corvus, Prior Husume, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Wildcat 108, Fischer Ranger 108, Moment Deathwish, & Rossignol Sender Ti.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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Win Ride Concepts MTB Shoes
This week two winners will each get a pair of Ride Concepts’ flat-pedal or clipless Hellion Shoes!
Reviewer Reports: Touring Setups, Resort Skis, & Jelly Bean Bribery (Ep.197)
Kristin Sinnott, Dylan Wood, Kara Williard, Drew Kelly, and Luke Koppa cover everything from the setups Drew used while touring for several weeks in Alaska this spring, to a whole bunch of skis, boots, and bindings from Faction, Blizzard, K2, Nordica, Salomon, and more. We also touch on some new Strafe outerwear, get an update from Kara on some heated socks, and discuss some unique gear and tricks that Kristin’s been using to ski with her son.
Flash Review — 2022 Orbea Rallon
We’ve started spending time on the new Orbea Rallon Enduro bike, and our early impressions are quite positive. Check out our Flash Review for our initial thoughts.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2022-2023 DPS Pagoda Tour 106 C2
Here are our measured specs, rocker profile pics, and flex pattern numbers for the DPS Pagoda Tour 106 C2.
Contra Bikes on Building a Bike From Scratch (Ep.118)
Designing a bike frame is hard enough. Taking it to production is an even bigger challenge, but that hasn’t stopped Evan Turpen, and his Contra Bikes high-pivot prototype is extremely impressive. So this week on Bikes & Big Ideas, we sat down with Evan to chat about why he decided to start a bike company, and what he hopes to achieve with the bike; learn all about designing and fabricating frames from scratch (and how he learned to do it), and a whole lot more.
Hoka Tecton X
Hoka has a reputation for taking risks, and their first carbon-plated trail shoe, the Tecton X, benefits from the brand’s willingness to experiment with design and forgo the conventional. While the shoe has some drawbacks that limit its versatility, it’s nonetheless a worthy entrant into the hyper-performance trail shoe category and a model we expect to see on plenty of start lines this summer. Check out our full review for more.